Webb Is Off And Running

Today, former Navy Secretary James Webb announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate from a room in the General Assembly building in Richmond. Webb also announced his senior campaign staff.

Here's a few quotes from the event (more can be found at Raising Kaine):
On Iraq:
“We should never have been there” [in the first place]. We need to “get out of Iraq”…” in a responsible way.” The first thing we must do is to “bring the other countries in the region to the table.” “We will have to do this eventually, anyway.” But first this administration must “acknowledge there are no long term aspirations in Iraq.” “They have yet to do that.” “Do we want to spend 50 years in Iraq?"
On Courageous Leadership:
“We need leadership with backbone.”“I’m willing to make the tough calls on issues.”“We need leaders who know when to say enough is enough.”
On why he is a Democrat:
The Democratic Party has always been the party of the “average person.” It was “born of the populist politics of Andrew Jackson.” I am defined by “the ideals of Jacksonian Democracy.” [It was and should be the party that answers the question] “Who speaks for those without a voice?” “Andrew Jackson is the paradigm” [for what the Democratic Party should be].

I'll have more about this either tonight or tomorrow, as I'll be out of school.

-Neal